Serious distortion from Rega RP1

@lousyreeds1
Hey, I’ve got the exact same problem with a used RP1 that I bought.
Distortion seems to come and go, most noticeable in the highs. It’s prominent in very busy passages in the songs. Happens on all my records, most of them are brand new as well.

I’m ordering in a gauge scale and a new stylus/cartridge and re-doing the whole thing for added measure. But seriously, what was the issue with yours? I’m very keen to know if you fixed it!

I had an Rp1, when it was introduced. My reentry after a near 30 hiatus.

Excessive tracking force ?Have you tried backing off the counterweight a bit to hear if it goes away? 

I've re-aligned the stylus/cartridge as it was a little off, I backed off the counterweight a bit, then the tonearm just kept wanting to move away from the center, so I added more weight, now it's slightly less weight than recommended.
I still have the tonearm wanting to move away from the center, but it's less pronounce and it's only when it's high up.

Anyhow, I think it's a little better now, but it still distorts a little especially when there's a lot happening in the song. And the overall fidelity is a little lacking, but I think that's just the nature of the OM5E; stock cartridge, so yeah...

I'm gonna order the Ortofon 2M Red soon & a digital gauge and set it all up to the T then see how I go I guess. Hopefully I get better results, but this is definitely an improvement @tablejockey; so thank you! :D

Maybe the gathering of dust on the stylus.

Have you inspected that the arm has free movement?  not binding from time to time?